JERUSALEM, CIRCA 1920

The Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts was established outside of Jerusalem in 1908 and named after Bezalel ben Uri, the Biblical builder of the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:33). The unusual and exuberant repeat design of this carpet, however, may indicate that it was woven in the Marvadiah workshop. The Marvadiah, an independent commerical workshop, was started in 1920 by a group of Bezalel designers and weavers who continued the tradition of Bezalel designs and ideas as well as more innovative motifs.